A sports injury is harm done to the body while training for or competing in a sport. The most common sport injuries are sprains, knee injuries, fractures, dislocations, shin splints, pulled hamstring muscles and Achilles tendonitis.

In the U.S., 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports, resulting in more than 3.5 million injuries each year. Most injuries, 62%, occur during practice. Accidents, poor training practices or improper gear can cause injuries to all parts of the body.

Some people injure themselves when they practice sports for which they are not in shape or when they try to perform at levels above their physical capabilities. Not warming up or stretching enough can also lead to injury. In rare cases, sports injuries result in death, with the leading cause being a brain injury.

There are several ways to reduce the chances of being injured while practicing sports. For example, one should always avoid training when tired and be sure to get plenty of rest so that the body has time to recover. An increase in carbohydrate intake during intense training periods will help provide the body with the energy and nourishment it needs to avoid fatigue. Newcomers should ease into a training regimen and choose workouts that are appropriate for their fitness level. Minor injuries should always be treated to prevent them from developing into more serious problems in the future, and it is always a good idea to stop training immediately if you feel pain.

An athletic trainer is a person who is educated in the area of care and prevention of athletic related injuries. The duties of an athletic trainer include the prevention, recognition, and immediate treatment and rehabilitation of injuries occurring during physical activities or athletics.

The highest rates of sports injury occur in sports that involve contact and collisions. Statistics show that the sports with the highest injury rates are basketball, bicycling, soccer, football and baseball.